Atoms with Eight Electrons in Their Outer Shells Tend To

Question

Atoms with eight electrons in their outer shells tend to:
A) form covalent bonds.
B) form ionic bonds.
C) be chemically reactive.
D) be stable and unreactive.

Accepted Answer

Atoms with eight electrons in their outer shells are considered to have a full valence shell and are therefore stable and unreactive, also known as inert gases. This is commonly known as the octet rule. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.